Meet the core team

Rennie Schafer - CEO

Rennie is the current CEO of the Self Storage Association UK, having previously been the CEO of the Australasian Self Storage Association for over 9 years. Rennie has extensive knowledge of the self storage industry across the world, from the developing Asian markets through to the birthplace of self storage in the USA.

While with the Australasian Self Storage Association he introduced a range of simplified standard licence agreements for the different types of storage arrangements used by the industry, developed an industry marketing guide, customised self storage staff training, a workplace safety manual and demand study for the industry. He was also part of the judging panel for the self storage industry awards across Australia, NZ and Asia and has spoken at numerous self storage events around the world.

Rennie has an MBA from Deakin University as well as a Masters of Applied Science (Environmental Health). He has over 15 years experience working in industry associations, and enjoys riding his mountain bike, listening to music and swimming.

Tracey Prigmore - Office Manager

Tracey joined the Self Storage Association in April 2012 in the role of Association Secretary and Office Manager. After graduating from Sheffield City Polytechnic with a degree in Business Studies and attaining the Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma in Marketing, Tracey joined Yorkshire Bank on their Graduate Training Programme where she enjoyed a 17 year career with National Australia Group (owners of Yorkshire Bank, Clydesdale Bank, National Australia Bank & Bank of New Zealand) in roles ranging from branch office management to Head Office roles in Finance Division, Marketing and Business Project Management in Leeds, Glasgow and Melbourne, Australia. When her son started school Tracey opened up the Nantwich Kumon Study Centre under a franchise agreement, offering the Kumon after school maths and English programmes.

Bryony Caswell - Membership Services Officer

Bryony is the Membership Services Officer at the Self Storage Association UK, and joined in April 2014. After graduating from the University of Chester with a degree in Mathematics, Bryony worked for the Cheshire Building Society (part of the Nationwide Building Society) and Marks and Spencer before joining the Association. Bryony enjoys playing pool and spending time outside with family and friends, having previously owned horses and completed her BHS Stage 1 & 2 exams.

Board Members

Mike Wilson - Chairman

Mike has over eight years experience in the self storage industry, and is co-founder of recently opened SureStore Storage, having previously being CEO of North-West based Smart Storage. Mike also has spent the last 15 years in senior board positions in a number of sectors, giving him widespread corporate governance experience in delivering goals in an effective manner. Mike joined the Board in June 2015.

Rory Windham - Treasurer

Rory has 15 years’ experience in the self storage industry and has been in his current role of Operations Director of 1st Storage Centres Ltd for the last 10 years. Previously, Rory worked for Aardvark, which was the largest independently owned self storage company in the UK before it was sold onto Mentmore plc. who operated Spaces Personal Storage. Rory stayed with the company through the move, and for a further two years, before it was sold to Safestore, who Rory briefly worked for before joining Norman and setting up 1st Storage Centres Ltd. Rory joined the Board of Directors in June 2015.

John Trotman - Board Member

John is a Chartered Accountant having trained with Deloitte LLP, where he specialised in the real estate sector and self storage. On leaving Deloitte in 2005, he worked for a subsidiary of the Kajima Corporation. John joined Big Yellow as Chief Financial Officer in June 2007. He joined the Board of Directors of the Self Storage Association in June 2014.

Paul Fahey - Board Member

Paul Fahey has 15 years of experience in the self storage industry, with his first position as Shareholder and Director of Rent-a-Space Ltd in 1999. Paul has established four different small self storage businesses, two of which he has since sold and two which he still operates. He is also a Chairman and Shareholder of an Italian portfolio and the SSA representative on the FEDESSA board, having been a Director of FEDESSA since it was established 10 years ago. Paul was previously on the SSA UK board, and held the post of Chairman for 3 years. Paul joined the Board for a second stint in June 2014.

Nick Poole - Board Member

Nick has been involved the self storage industry for over 11 years, when he set up Fort Locks Self Storage in Banbury with Annie Poole. Fort Locks Self Storage is a container site, and Nick has joined the Board to represent the growing number of independent container operators joining the industry, and to encourage the membership of container sites to ensure the standards are maintained across the whole industry. Nick joined the Board in June 2015.

Stuart Beavers - Board Member

Stuart has over 14 years’ experience in the Self Storage industry. He has been at Safestore Ltd as Head of Retail Services since September 2001 where he has seen the growth of the company from just 24 stores to over 120. Previously Stuart worked in a similar position for Pets at Home the pet superstore chain where he spent 10 years, joining when it was Pet City with just 16 stores. Stuart joined the Board in June 2015.

Peter Doman - Supplier Board Member

Duncan Bell - Board Member

Duncan has been the UK Market Manager for Shurgard since 2009. He is responsible for all operational matters in the UK and the delivery of Shurgard European-wide initiatives. Duncan joined the board in July 2016.

Emma Chesterton-Kay - Board Member

Emma has worked in the self storage industry since 2003, working for Access Self Storage and Safestore, before joining Storage King in 2011 as their Acquisitions and Development Manager. Emma joined the Board in June 2017.

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